Headphone interaction with media playback system

ABSTRACT

Example techniques may involve headphone interaction. An implementation may include while headphones are disconnected from a control device, the control device receiving an indication of particular audio content being played back by a first zone of the media playback system. While the particular audio content is being played back by the one or more playback devices of the media playback system, detecting that headphones have been connected to the first control device. Headphones may be connectable to the control device via either (a) an analog headphone jack or (b) a point-to-point personal area network connection. In response to detecting that the headphones are connected to the control device: the control device (i) causing the one or more playback devices of the first zone to stop playback of the particular audio content; (ii) retrieving the particular audio content and (iii) resuming playback of the particular audio content via the connected headphones.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to, and is acontinuation of, U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No.16/845,988, filed on Apr. 10, 2020, entitled “Headphone Interaction withMedia Playback System,” which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/939,758 claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to, and is a continuation of, U.S.non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/939,758, filed on Mar.29, 2018, entitled “Headphone Interaction with Media Playback System,”and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,623,844 on Apr. 14, 2020, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure is related to consumer goods and, more particularly, tomethods, systems, products, features, services, and other elementsdirected to media playback or some aspect thereof.

BACKGROUND

Options for accessing and listening to digital audio in an out-loudsetting were limited until in 2003, when SONOS, Inc. filed for one ofits first patent applications, entitled “Method for Synchronizing AudioPlayback between Multiple Networked Devices,” and began offering a mediaplayback system for sale in 2005. The Sonos Wireless HiFi System enablespeople to experience music from many sources via one or more networkedplayback devices. Through a software control application installed on asmartphone, tablet, or computer, one can play what he or she wants inany room that has a networked playback device. Additionally, using thecontroller, for example, different songs can be streamed to each roomwith a playback device, rooms can be grouped together for synchronousplayback, or the same song can be heard in all rooms synchronously.

Given the ever growing interest in digital media, there continues to bea need to develop consumer-accessible technologies to further enhancethe listening experience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, aspects, and advantages of the presently disclosed technologymay be better understood with regard to the following description,appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows an example media playback system configuration in whichcertain embodiments may be practiced;

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of an example playback device inaccordance with aspects of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of an example control device inaccordance with aspects of the disclosure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are example controller interfaces in accordance withaspects of the disclosure;

FIG. 5A shows an example system that illustrates example headphoneinteractions accordance with aspects of the disclosure;

FIG. 5B is an example message flow diagram in accordance with aspects ofthe disclosure;

FIG. 5C is another example message flow diagram in accordance withaspects of the disclosure;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are an example user interfaces in accordance withaspects of the disclosure;

FIG. 7A shows an example system that illustrates example headphoneinteractions accordance with aspects of the disclosure;

FIG. 7B is an example message flow diagram in accordance with aspects ofthe disclosure;

FIG. 7C is another example message flow diagram in accordance withaspects of the disclosure;

FIG. 7D shows an example system that illustrates example headphoneinteractions accordance with aspects of the disclosure; and

FIG. 8 shows an example headphone interaction technique, according toexample implementations.

The drawings are for the purpose of illustrating example embodiments,but it is understood that the inventions are not limited to thearrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Overview

Examples implementations described herein involve interactions between amedia playback system that includes one or more playback devices thatare designed to play audio content out loud and headphones, which areconnectable to personal devices. Example personal devices, such assmartphones, tablets, and laptops, may execute various media playbackapplications that facilitate playing back music content via headphonesconnected to the personal device. Such personal devices may also executea control application that facilitates remote control of the mediaplayback system. Example implementations may facilitate transitioningbetween playback of out loud audio content on the one or more playbackdevices and headphone playback of the audio content.

For example, as noted above, a personal device may execute a controlapplication to control playback devices of a media playback system. Sucha personal device may be referred to as a “control device.” The controldevice, by way of the control application, may display a controlinterface that includes playback controls (e.g., transport controls suchas play, pause, or skip track) to remotely control audio contentplayback by the media playback system, as well as search and browsecontrols to select audio content for playback on the media playbacksystem. The control interface may also include contextual informationabout the media playback system, such as metadata of the audio contentcurrently playing back and as the name(s) of playback devices within themedia playback system that are playing back the audio content, amongother examples.

While particular audio content (e.g., an audio track) is being playedback on one or more playback devices of the media playback system, acontrol device may detect that headphones have been connected to thecontrol device (e.g., via an analog headphone jack or a point-to-pointpersonal area connection, such as Bluetooth®). In response to detectingthe connection of headphones, the control device transitions playbackfrom the one or more playback devices of the media playback system toplayback on the control device via the headphones. In particular, thecontrol device instructs the one or more playback devices to stop (ormute) playback of the particular audio content. The control device alsoretrieves the audio content from the audio source that was providing theparticular audio content to the one or more playback devices and resumesplaying the particular audio content via the one or more headphones. Theaudio source may be an audio streaming service, such as Pandora® andSpotify®. Alternatively, the audio source may be a television or otherline-in connected devices (e.g. a vinyl player) from which the one ormore playback devices are retrieving audio content.

The control device may also facilitate transitioning playback to the oneor more playback devices. For instance, while playing back particularaudio content via the headphones, a control device may detect that theheadphones have been disconnected from the control device. In responseto detecting the disconnection of the headphones, the control devicetransitions playback from the control device via the headphones toplayback on the one or more playback devices of the media playbacksystem. In particular, the control device stops playback of theparticular audio content on the control device. The control device alsoinstructs the one or more playback devices to resume playing theparticular audio content, perhaps after receiving confirmation thatplayback should be resumed via a selectable control displayed on thecontrol interface.

To illustrate, in one example, a first user and a second user may beginwatching a TV show or movie on a television that is configured to outputsound through a playback device of a media playback system. In examplesherein, the playback device outputting sound for the television may be asoundbar-type playback device configured with HDMI, optical digital orother audio input from a television or the like. If the first userdecides to go to sleep, the second user, to avoid disturbing thesleeping user, may plug in headphones to their smartphone (which is alsoa control device for the given playback device). When the smartphonedetects connection of the headphones, the smartphone instructs thesoundbar-type playback device to stop playing back the television audio(e.g., by muting the output). The control device resumes playback viathe connected headphones by retrieving the television audio from thesource, which in this example may be through the soundbar-type playbackdevice, as this device is connected to the television or content source.As noted above, if the audio source is a network location remote fromthe playback device, the control device may retrieve the audio contentdirectly from that source (e.g., from a server of a streaming audioservice).

Continuing the above-example, the second user may intentionally orunintentionally disconnect the headphones from his smartphone, which maycause the smartphone to transition playback of the television audio backto the soundbar-type playback device. To avoid a disturbance from outloud playback on the soundbar-type playback device, the smartphone maydisplay a selectable control prompting the second user to confirm thatplayback should resume on the soundbar-type playback device. Thesmartphone may additionally display a selectable control to optionallyadjust a playback volume when playback resumes on the soundbar-typeplayback device. When the selectable control is selected, the smartphonestops playback via the headphones and instructs the soundbar-typeplayback device to play back the television audio.

In some implementations, the control device may automatically transitionplayback based on a policy. For instance, an example policy may causethe control device to automatically transition playback during daytimehours (e.g., 8 AM to 9 PM) and prompt for confirmation during nighttimehours (e.g., 9 PM to 8 AM). The control interface of the controlapplication may include controls to set such policies for the mediaplayback system. Different playback devices may have different policies(e.g., a playback device in the bedroom might be programed withdifferent hours than a playback device in a basement den).

In some examples, a playback device may facilitate transition of audioplayback. For instance, a playback device may receive, from a controldevice, an instruction to play back audio content. In response, theplayback device retrieves and plays back the audio content. Whileplaying back the audio content, the playback device may receive, fromthe control device, a message indicating that headphones are connectedto the control device of the media playback system. In response, theplayback device stops playback of the retrieved audio content and causesthe control device to play back the audio content via the firstheadphones.

As noted above, example techniques may involve headphone interactionswith a media playback system. Example implementations described hereinmay be embodied as a method, a device configured to carry out theimplementation, a system of devices configured to carry out theimplementation, or a non-transitory computer-readable medium containinginstructions that are executable by one or more processors to carry outthe implementation, among other examples. It will be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art that this disclosure includes numerousother embodiments, including combinations of the example featuresdescribed herein. Further, any example operation described as beingperformed by a given device to illustrate a technique may be performedby any suitable devices, including the devices described herein. Yetfurther, any device may cause another device to perform any of theoperations described herein.

A first implementation may include while headphones are disconnectedfrom a first control device, receiving, via a network interface of thefirst control device, an indication of particular audio content beingplayed back by a first zone of the media playback system, wherein thefirst zone comprises one or more playback devices that are separate anddistinct from the first control device and connected to the firstcontrol device via a local area network; while the particular audiocontent is being played back by one or more playback devices of themedia playback system, detecting that headphones have been connected tothe first control device, wherein headphones are connectable to thefirst control device via either (a) an analog headphone jack of thefirst control device or (b) a point-to-point personal area networkconnection via a personal area network interface of the first controldevice; and in response to detecting that the headphones are connectedto the first control device of the media playback system: (i) causing,via the network interface of the first control device, the one or moreplayback devices of the first zone to stop playback of the particularaudio content; (ii) retrieving, via the network interface of the firstcontrol device, the particular audio content from an audio source thatis remote from the first control device; and (iii) resuming playback ofthe particular audio content via the connected headphones.

A second implementation may include receiving, via a network interfacefrom a first control device of the media playback system, an instructionto play back audio content; in response to receiving the instruction toplay back audio content, (i) retrieving, via an I/O interface, the audiocontent from an audio source that is remote from the playback device and(ii) playing back the retrieved audio content via the audio stage andthe one or more speakers; while playing back the retrieved audio contentvia the audio stage and the one or more speakers, receiving, via thenetwork interface from the first control device, a message indicatingthat first headphones are connected to the first control device of themedia playback system; and in response to receiving the messageindicating that the first headphones are connected to the first controldevice of the media playback system: (i) stopping playback of theretrieved audio content via the audio stage and the one or more speakersand (ii) causing, via the network interface, the first control device toplay back the audio content via the first headphones.

While some examples described herein may refer to functions performed bygiven actors such as “users” and/or other entities, it should beunderstood that this description is for purposes of explanation only.The claims should not be interpreted to require action by any suchexample actor unless explicitly required by the language of the claimsthemselves.

Moreover, some functions are described herein as being performed “basedon” or “in response to” another element or function. For the sake ofbrevity, functions are generally described as being based on anotherfunction when a functional link exists; however, disclosure of “basedon” or “in response to” should be understood as disclosing either typeof functional relationship. In the claims, “based on” should beunderstood that one element or function is related to another functionor element and “in response to” should be understood as one element orfunction being a necessary result of another function or element.

II. Example Operating Environment

FIG. 1 illustrates an example configuration of a media playback system100 in which one or more embodiments disclosed herein may beimplemented. The media playback system 100 as shown is associated withan example home environment having several rooms and spaces, such as forexample, an office, a dining room, and a living room. Within these roomsand spaces, the media playback system 100 includes playback devices 102(identified individually as playback devices 102 a-102 m) and controldevices 103 a and 103 b (collectively “control devices 103”). In variousexamples, a pair of headphones 104 may be connected to the controldevice 103.

The various playback and control devices 102-103 and/or other networkdevices of the media playback system 100 may be coupled to one anothervia point-to-point connections and/or over other connections, which maybe wired and/or wireless, via a LAN including a network router 106. Forexample, the playback device 102 j (designated as “Left”) may have apoint-to-point connection with the playback device 102 a (designated as“Right”). In one embodiment, the Left playback device 102 j maycommunicate over the point-to-point connection with the Right playbackdevice 102 a. In a related embodiment, the Left playback device 102 jmay communicate with other network devices via the point-to-pointconnection and/or other connections via the LAN.

The network router 106 may be coupled to one or more remote computingdevice(s) 105 via a wide area network (WAN) 107. In some embodiments,the remote computing device(s) 105 may be cloud servers. The remotecomputing device(s) 105 may be configured to interact with the mediaplayback system 100 in various ways. For example, the remote computingdevice(s) may be configured to facilitate streaming and controllingplayback of media content, such as audio, in the home environment,perhaps as part of providing a streaming audio service via WAN 107. Insome examples, the remote computing device(s) 105 may be representativeof cloud servers from multiple services, perhaps operated by differententities.

Further aspects relating to the different components of the examplemedia playback system 100 and how the different components may interactto provide a user with a media experience may be found in the followingsections. While discussions herein may generally refer to the examplemedia playback system 100, technologies described herein are not limitedto applications within, among other things, the home environment asshown in FIG. 1 . For instance, the technologies described herein may beuseful in other home environment configurations comprising more or fewerof any of the playback and/or control devices 102-103. Additionally, thetechnologies described herein may be useful in environments wheremulti-zone audio may be desired, such as, for example, a commercialsetting like a restaurant, mall or airport, a vehicle like a sportsutility vehicle (SUV), bus or car, a ship or boat, an airplane, and soon.

a. Example Playback Devices

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating certain aspects of aselected one of the playback devices 102 shown in FIG. 1 . As shown,such a playback device may include a processor 212, software components214, memory 216, audio processing components 218, audio amplifier(s)220, speaker(s) 222, microphone(s) 224, and a network interface 230including wireless interface(s) 232 and wired interface(s) 234. In someembodiments, a playback device might not include the speaker(s) 222, butrather a speaker interface for connecting the playback device toexternal speakers. In certain embodiments, the playback device mayinclude neither the speaker(s) 222 nor the audio amplifier(s) 222, butrather an line-out interface for connecting a playback device to anexternal audio amplifier or audio-visual receiver. The playback deviceincludes a housing 238 carrying its constituent components.

A playback device may further include a user interface 226. The userinterface 226 may facilitate user interactions independent of or inconjunction with one or more of the control devices 103. In variousembodiments, the user interface 226 includes one or more of physicalbuttons and/or graphical user interfaces provided on touch sensitivescreen(s) and/or surface(s), among other possibilities, for a user todirectly provide input. The user interface 226 may further include oneor more of lights and the speaker(s) to provide visual and/or audiofeedback to a user.

In some embodiments, the processor 212 may be a clock-driven computingcomponent configured to process input data according to instructionsstored in the memory 216. The memory 216 may be a tangiblecomputer-readable medium configured to store instructions executable bythe processor 212. For example, the memory 216 may be data storage thatcan be loaded with one or more of the software components 214 executableby the processor 212 to achieve certain functions. In one example, thefunctions may involve a playback device retrieving audio data from anaudio source or another playback device. In another example, thefunctions may involve a playback device sending audio data to anotherdevice on a network. In yet another example, the functions may involvepairing of a playback device with one or more other playback devices tocreate a multi-channel audio environment.

Certain functions may involve a playback device synchronizing playbackof audio content with one or more other playback devices. Duringsynchronous playback, a listener may not perceive time-delay differencesbetween playback of the audio content by the synchronized playbackdevices. U.S. Pat. No. 8,234,395 filed Apr. 4, 2004, and titled “Systemand method for synchronizing operations among a plurality ofindependently clocked digital data processing devices,” which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety, provides in more detail someexamples for audio playback synchronization among playback devices.

The audio processing components 218 may include one or moredigital-to-analog converters (DAC), an audio preprocessing component, anaudio enhancement component or a digital signal processor (DSP), and soon. In some embodiments, one or more of the audio processing components218 may be a subcomponent of the processor 212. In one example, audiocontent may be processed and/or intentionally altered by the audioprocessing components 218 to produce audio signals. The produced audiosignals may then be provided to the audio amplifier(s) 210 foramplification and playback through speaker(s) 212. Particularly, theaudio amplifier(s) 210 may include devices configured to amplify audiosignals to a level for driving one or more of the speakers 212. Thespeaker(s) 212 may include an individual transducer (e.g., a “driver”)or a complete speaker system involving an enclosure with one or moredrivers. A particular driver of the speaker(s) 212 may include, forexample, a subwoofer (e.g., for low frequencies), a mid-range driver(e.g., for middle frequencies), and/or a tweeter (e.g., for highfrequencies). In some cases, each transducer in the one or more speakers212 may be driven by an individual corresponding audio amplifier of theaudio amplifier(s) 210. In addition to producing analog signals forplayback, the audio processing components 208 may be configured toprocess audio content to be sent to one or more other playback devicesfor playback.

Audio content to be processed and/or played back by a playback devicemay be received from an external source, such as via an audio line-ininput connection (e.g., an auto-detecting 3.5 mm audio line-inconnection) or the network interface 230.

The network interface 230 may be configured to facilitate a data flowbetween a playback device and one or more other devices on a datanetwork. As such, a playback device may be configured to receive audiocontent over the data network from one or more other playback devices incommunication with a playback device, network devices within a localarea network, or audio content sources over a wide area network such asthe Internet. In one example, the audio content and other signalstransmitted and received by a playback device may be transmitted in theform of digital packet data containing an Internet Protocol (IP)-basedsource address and IP-based destination addresses. In such a case, thenetwork interface 230 may be configured to parse the digital packet datasuch that the data destined for a playback device is properly receivedand processed by the playback device.

As shown, the network interface 230 may include wireless interface(s)232 and wired interface(s) 234. The wireless interface(s) 232 mayprovide network interface functions for a playback device to wirelesslycommunicate with other devices (e.g., other playback device(s),speaker(s), receiver(s), network device(s), control device(s) within adata network the playback device is associated with) in accordance witha communication protocol (e.g., any wireless standard including IEEE802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.15, 4G mobilecommunication standard, and so on). The wired interface(s) 234 mayprovide network interface functions for a playback device to communicateover a wired connection with other devices in accordance with acommunication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.3). While the network interface230 shown in FIG. 2 includes both wireless interface(s) 232 and wiredinterface(s) 234, the network interface 230 might include only wirelessinterface(s) or only wired interface(s) in various examples.

By way of illustration, SONOS, Inc. presently offers (or has offered)for sale certain playback devices including a “PLAY:1,” “PLAY:3,”“PLAY:5,” “PLAYBAR,” “CONNECT:AMP,” “CONNECT,” and “SUB.” Any otherpast, present, and/or future playback devices may additionally oralternatively be used to implement the playback devices of exampleembodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, it is understood that aplayback device is not limited to the example illustrated in FIG. 2 orto the SONOS product offerings. For example, a playback device mayinclude a wired or wireless headphone. In another example, a playbackdevice may include or interact with a docking station for personalmobile media playback devices. In yet another example, a playback devicemay be integral to another device or component such as a television, alighting fixture, or some other device for indoor or outdoor use.

b. Example Playback Zone Configurations

Referring back to the media playback system 100 of FIG. 1 , theenvironment may have one or more playback zones, each with one or moreplayback devices. The media playback system 100 may be established withone or more playback zones, after which one or more zones may be added,or removed to arrive at the example configuration shown in FIG. 1 . Eachzone may be given a name according to a different room or space such asan office, bathroom, master bedroom, bedroom, kitchen, dining room,living room, and/or balcony. In one case, a single playback zone mayinclude multiple rooms or spaces. In another case, a single room orspace may include multiple playback zones.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the balcony, dining room, kitchen, bathroom,office, and bedroom zones each have one playback device, while theliving room and master bedroom zones each have multiple playbackdevices. In the living room zone, playback devices 102 a, 102 b, 102 j,and 102 k may be configured to play audio content in synchrony asindividual playback devices, as one or more bonded playback devices, asone or more consolidated playback devices, or any combination thereof.Similarly, in the case of the master bedroom, playback devices 102 f and102 g may be configured to play audio content in synchrony as individualplayback devices, as a bonded playback device, or as a consolidatedplayback device.

In one example, one or more playback zones in the environment of FIG. 1may each be playing different audio content. For instance, the user maybe grilling in the balcony zone and listening to hip hop music beingplayed by the playback device 102 c while another user may be preparingfood in the kitchen zone and listening to classical music being playedby the playback device 102 i. In another example, a playback zone mayplay the same audio content in synchrony with another playback zone. Forinstance, the user may be in the office zone where the playback device102 d is playing the same rock music that is being playing by playbackdevice 102 c in the balcony zone. In such a case, playback devices 102 cand 102 d may be playing the rock music in synchrony such that the usermay seamlessly (or at least substantially seamlessly) enjoy the audiocontent that is being played out-loud while moving between differentplayback zones. Synchronization among playback zones may be achieved ina manner similar to that of synchronization among playback devices, asdescribed in previously referenced U.S. Pat. No. 8,234,395.

As suggested above, the zone configurations of the media playback system100 may be dynamically modified, and in some embodiments, the mediaplayback system 100 supports numerous configurations. For instance, if auser physically moves one or more playback devices to or from a zone,the media playback system 100 may be reconfigured to accommodate thechange(s). For instance, if the user physically moves the playbackdevice 102 c from the balcony zone to the office zone, the office zonemay now include both the playback device 102 d and the playback device102 c. The playback device 102 may be paired or grouped with the officezone and/or renamed if so desired via a control device such as thecontrol devices 103 a and 103 b. On the other hand, if the one or moreplayback devices are moved to a particular area in the home environmentthat is not already a playback zone, a new playback zone may be createdfor the particular area.

Further, different playback zones of the media playback system 100 maybe dynamically combined into zone groups or split up into individualplayback zones. For instance, the dining room zone and the kitchen zonemay be combined into a zone group for a dinner party such that playbackdevices 102 i and 102 l may render audio content in synchrony. On theother hand, the living room zone may be split into a television zoneincluding playback device 102 b, and a listening zone including playbackdevices 102 a, 102 j, and 102 k, if the user wishes to listen to musicin the living room space while another user wishes to watch thetelevision 108.

In some implementations, the playback devices 102 of media playbacksystem 100 may be arranged into a smart home hierarchy referred to asHome Graph. The base unit of the home graph hierarchy is a “Set.” Forthe purpose of this disclosure, a “Set” refers to an individual deviceor multiple devices that operate together in performing a givenfunction. For instance, a bonded zone of audio playback devices (e.g., astereo pair or surround sound configuration) function together inplaying back audio content by playing back respective channels orportions of that content. As another example, multiple smart lightbulbsin the same light fixture function together in providing illuminationfrom that light fixture. To individually control different smartdevices, each of these smart devices may be assigned into a respectiveSet.

The next level of the Home Graph hierarchy is a “Room.” Under theexample home graph hierarchy described herein, a “Room” can beconsidered a container for Sets in a given room of a home. For example,an example Room might correspond to the kitchen of a home, and beassigned the name “Kitchen.” The afore-mentioned Sets having the names“Kitchen Island” and “Kitchen Lights” may belong to the Room.

Under home graph, Sets within the room container may be referred to bythe name of the room. For instance, the voice command “Play music inKitchen” causes the “Kitchen Island” Set (which includes an audioplayback device) to start playing music. If there are multiple Sets inthe Kitchen that include audio playback devices, the voice command “Playmusic in Kitchen” invokes every Set in the “Kitchen” Room that includesan audio playback device. If control of an individual Set is desired,that Set may be selected by reference to its name (e.g., “KitchenIsland”) rather than the name of the Room.

The next level of the example home graph hierarchy is “Area.” Many homesare naturally divided into areas, such as upstairs and downstairs. Undera first example implementation of home graph, an Area includes two ormore rooms. For instance, a user may pre-define two Areas named“upstairs” and “downstairs,” which include the Rooms upstairs and theRooms downstairs in the home, respectively. Under a second example, anarea contains two or more sets (possibly in different Rooms).

The highest level of the home graph hierarchy is “Home.” A Home refersto the entire home, and all of the Sets within. In some implementations,the Home may be referred to by reference to “everywhere.” For thepurposes of this disclosure, the terms “Set,” “Room,” “Area” and “Home”are capitalized when referring to levels of the home graph hierarchy soas to distinguish from the common usage of these terms. Moreover,human-readable names (i.e., character strings) are used in identifyingSets, Rooms, Areas, and Home and are denoted by quotations marks (e.g.,“Nick's Room” Set).

c. Example Control Devices

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating certain aspects of aselected one of the controller devices 103 of the media playback system100 of FIG. 1 . Such controller devices may also be referred to as acontroller or a control device. The controller device shown in FIG. 3may include components that are generally similar to certain componentsof the network devices described above, such as a processor 312, memory316, and a network interface 330. In one example, a controller devicemay be a dedicated controller for the media playback system 100. Inanother example, a controller device may be a network device on whichmedia playback system controller application software may be installed,such as for example, an iPhone™, iPad™ or any other smart phone, tabletor network device (e.g., a networked computer such as a PC or Mac™). Thecontrol device 103 includes a housing 338 carrying its constituentcomponents.

The memory 316 of the control device 103 may be configured to storecontroller application software and other data associated with the mediaplayback system 100 and a user of the system 100. The memory 316 may beloaded with one or more software components 314 executable by theprocessor 312 to achieve certain functions, such as facilitating useraccess, control, and configuration of the media playback system 100. Thecontrol device 103 communicates with other network devices over thenetwork interface 330, such as a wireless interface, as described above.

The control device 103 may include a plurality of microphones arrangedto detect sound in the environment of the control device 103. Themicrophones may detect voice inputs to the media playback system 100,process those inputs, perhaps using one or more VASs, and carry out thecommands on one or more playback devices 102.

Playback device control commands such as volume control and audioplayback control may also be communicated from a control device to aplayback device via the network interface 330. As suggested above,changes to configurations of the media playback system 100 may also beperformed by a user using the control device. The configuration changesmay include adding/removing one or more playback devices to/from a zone,adding/removing one or more zones to/from a zone group, forming a bondedor merged player, separating one or more playback devices from a bondedor merged player, among others.

In one example, data and information (e.g., such as a state variable)may be communicated between a control device and other devices via thenetwork interface 330. For instance, playback zone and zone groupconfigurations in the media playback system 100 may be received by acontrol device from a playback device, another control device, oranother network device, or transmitted by the control device to anotherplayback device or control device via the network interface 330. In somecases, the other network device may be another control device.

The headphone interface(s) 336 may include analog interface(s) 338and/or wireless interface(s) 340. The analog interface(s) 338 mayinclude a headphone jack (also known as a phone connector) in 2.5 mm or3.5 mm connectors, among other examples. Such a headphone jack connectsto an audio chipset of the control device 300, which may be integratedinto the processor 312 for instance, perhaps as part of asystem-on-a-chip (SOC). Output from the audio chipset is provided toheadphones connected to the analog interface(s) 338 to drive theheadphones in producing audio output. The wireless interface(s) 340 mayinclude a personal area network (PAN) network interface that supports astandard such as Bluetooth® SIG (formally standardized as IEEE802.15.1). Via the wireless interface(s) 340, the control device 300 mayform a wireless point-to-point connection with compatible headphones toprovide audio to the headphones for playback.

Control device 300 may maintain a state variable indicating whetherheadphones are connected to the headphone interface(s) 336. Inparticular, connection or disconnection of headphones to analoginterface(s) 338 may complete or disconnect a circuit (e.g., a circuitincluding the amplifier output of the audio chipset), which in turntriggers updating of the state variable to indicate whether headphonesare connected. As another example, when headphones are connected to thewireless interface(s) 340, a headset-specific profile, such as AdvancedAudio Distribution Profile (A2DP) may be used. Use of the A2DP profilewith a Bluetooth® compatible device may cause the state variable toindicate that headphones are connected. Other examples are possible aswell.

The user interface(s) 326 of a control device may be configured tofacilitate user access and control of the media playback system 100, byproviding controller interface(s) such as the controller interfaces 326a and 326 b shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, respectively, which may bereferred to collectively as the controller interface 326. Referring toFIGS. 4A and 4B together, the controller interface 326 includes aplayback control region 442, a playback zone region 443, a playbackstatus region 444, a playback queue region 446, and a sources region448. The user interface 326 as shown is just one example of a userinterface that may be provided on a network device such as the controldevice shown in FIG. 3 and accessed by users to control a media playbacksystem such as the media playback system 100. Other user interfaces ofvarying formats, styles, and interactive sequences may alternatively beimplemented on one or more network devices to provide comparable controlaccess to a media playback system.

The playback control region 442 (FIG. 4A) may include selectable (e.g.,by way of touch or by using a cursor) icons to cause playback devices ina selected playback zone or zone group to play or pause, fast forward,rewind, skip to next, skip to previous, enter/exit shuffle mode,enter/exit repeat mode, enter/exit cross fade mode. The playback controlregion 442 may also include selectable icons to modify equalizationsettings, and playback volume, among other possibilities.

The playback zone region 443 (FIG. 4B) may include representations ofplayback zones within the media playback system 100. The playback zonesregions may also include representation of zone groups, such as theDining Room+Kitchen zone group, as shown. In some embodiments, thegraphical representations of playback zones may be selectable to bringup additional selectable icons to manage or configure the playback zonesin the media playback system, such as a creation of bonded zones,creation of zone groups, separation of zone groups, and renaming of zonegroups, among other possibilities.

For example, as shown, a “group” icon may be provided within each of thegraphical representations of playback zones. The “group” icon providedwithin a graphical representation of a particular zone may be selectableto bring up options to select one or more other zones in the mediaplayback system to be grouped with the particular zone. Once grouped,playback devices in the zones that have been grouped with the particularzone will be configured to play audio content in synchrony with theplayback device(s) in the particular zone. Analogously, a “group” iconmay be provided within a graphical representation of a zone group. Inthis case, the “group” icon may be selectable to bring up options todeselect one or more zones in the zone group to be removed from the zonegroup. Other interactions and implementations for grouping andungrouping zones via a user interface such as the user interface 326 arealso possible. The representations of playback zones in the playbackzone region 443 (FIG. 4B) may be dynamically updated as playback zone orzone group configurations are modified.

The playback status region 444 (FIG. 4A) may include graphicalrepresentations of audio content that is presently being played,previously played, or scheduled to play next in the selected playbackzone or zone group. The selected playback zone or zone group may bevisually distinguished on the user interface, such as within theplayback zone region 443 and/or the playback status region 444. Thegraphical representations may include track title, artist name, albumname, album year, track length, and other relevant information that maybe useful for the user to know when controlling the media playbacksystem via the user interface 426.

The playback queue region 446 may include graphical representations ofaudio content in a playback queue associated with the selected playbackzone or zone group. In some embodiments, each playback zone or zonegroup may be associated with a playback queue containing informationcorresponding to zero or more audio items for playback by the playbackzone or zone group. For instance, each audio item in the playback queuemay comprise a uniform resource identifier (URI), a uniform resourcelocator (URL) or some other identifier that may be used by a playbackdevice in the playback zone or zone group to find and/or retrieve theaudio item from a local audio content source or a networked audiocontent source, possibly for playback by the playback device.

In one example, a playlist may be added to a playback queue, in whichcase information corresponding to each audio item in the playlist may beadded to the playback queue. In another example, audio items in aplayback queue may be saved as a playlist. In a further example, aplayback queue may be empty, or populated but “not in use” when theplayback zone or zone group is playing continuously streaming audiocontent, such as Internet radio that may continue to play untilotherwise stopped, rather than discrete audio items that have playbackdurations. In an alternative embodiment, a playback queue can includeInternet radio and/or other streaming audio content items and be “inuse” when the playback zone or zone group is playing those items. Otherexamples are also possible.

When playback zones or zone groups are “grouped” or “ungrouped,”playback queues associated with the affected playback zones or zonegroups may be cleared or re-associated. For example, if a first playbackzone including a first playback queue is grouped with a second playbackzone including a second playback queue, the established zone group mayhave an associated playback queue that is initially empty, that containsaudio items from the first playback queue (such as if the secondplayback zone was added to the first playback zone), that contains audioitems from the second playback queue (such as if the first playback zonewas added to the second playback zone), or a combination of audio itemsfrom both the first and second playback queues. Subsequently, if theestablished zone group is ungrouped, the resulting first playback zonemay be re-associated with the previous first playback queue, or beassociated with a new playback queue that is empty or contains audioitems from the playback queue associated with the established zone groupbefore the established zone group was ungrouped. Similarly, theresulting second playback zone may be re-associated with the previoussecond playback queue, or be associated with a new playback queue thatis empty, or contains audio items from the playback queue associatedwith the established zone group before the established zone group wasungrouped. Other examples are also possible.

With reference still to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the graphical representationsof audio content in the playback queue region 446 (FIG. 4B) may includetrack titles, artist names, track lengths, and other relevantinformation associated with the audio content in the playback queue. Inone example, graphical representations of audio content may beselectable to bring up additional selectable icons to manage and/ormanipulate the playback queue and/or audio content represented in theplayback queue. For instance, a represented audio content may be removedfrom the playback queue, moved to a different position within theplayback queue, or selected to be played immediately, or after anycurrently playing audio content, among other possibilities. A playbackqueue associated with a playback zone or zone group may be stored in amemory on one or more playback devices in the playback zone or zonegroup, on a playback device that is not in the playback zone or zonegroup, and/or some other designated device. Playback of such a playbackqueue may involve one or more playback devices playing back media itemsof the queue, perhaps in sequential or random order.

d. Example Audio Content Sources

The sources region 448 (FIG. 4A) may include graphical representationsof selectable audio content sources and voice assistant services (VAS).The audio sources in the sources region 348 may be audio content sourcesfrom which audio content may be retrieved and played by the selectedplayback zone or zone group. One or more playback devices in a zone orzone group may be configured to retrieve for playback audio content(e.g., according to a corresponding uniform resource identifier (URI) oruniform resource locator (URL) for the audio content) from a variety ofavailable audio content sources. In one example, audio content may beretrieved by a playback device directly from a corresponding audiocontent source (e.g., a line-in connection). In another example, audiocontent may be provided to a playback device over a network via one ormore other playback devices or network devices.

Example audio content sources may include a memory of one or moreplayback devices in a media playback system such as the media playbacksystem 100 of FIG. 1 , local music libraries on one or more networkdevices (such as a control device, a network-enabled personal computer,or a networked-attached storage (NAS), for example), streaming audioservices providing audio content via the Internet (e.g., the cloud), oraudio sources connected to the media playback system via a line-in inputconnection on a playback device or network devise, among otherpossibilities.

In some embodiments, audio content sources may be regularly added orremoved from a media playback system such as the media playback system100 of FIG. 1 . In one example, an indexing of audio items may beperformed whenever one or more audio content sources are added, removedor updated. Indexing of audio items may involve scanning foridentifiable audio items in all folders/directory shared over a networkaccessible by playback devices in the media playback system, andgenerating or updating an audio content database containing metadata(e.g., title, artist, album, track length, among others) and otherassociated information, such as a URI or URL for each identifiable audioitem found. Other examples for managing and maintaining audio contentsources may also be possible.

III. Example Headphone Interactions

FIG. 5A illustrates an example configuration of a system in whichexample headphone interactions may be practiced. As shown, the system ofFIG. 5A includes the playback device 102 l of media playback system 100,a control device 103, headphones 104, and a network router 106. Inoperation, connection of the headphones 104 to the control device 103causes the control device 103 to transition playback of audio contentfrom the playback device 102 l to the control device 103 (via theheadphones 104). Similarly, disconnection of the headphones 104 from thecontrol device 103 causes the control device 103 to transition playbackof audio content from the control device 103 (via the headphones 104) tothe playback device 102 l.

In FIG. 5A, the playback device 102 l and the control device 103 areconnected via the router 106. In alternative implementations, thesedevices may directly connect via a point-to-point network such as anad-hoc WiFi® network or a Bluetooth® connection. Other types ofconnections that facilitate exchange of instructions and/or content maybe implemented as well.

To illustrate example headphone interactions, FIG. 5B is a message flowdiagram 550 showing instructions exchanged between the control device103, the playback device 102 l, and the remote computing devices 105(i.e., a content server of a streaming audio service). Such messages arerepresentative and example implementations that use additional or fewermessages are contemplated.

At 551, the control device 103 sends a message to the playback device102 l that instructs the playback device 102 l to add particular audiocontent to the queue of playback device 102 l for playback. The messageincludes a URI indicating the location of the audio content at theremote computing devices 105. The message also instructs the playbackdevice 102 l to play back the queue. In other examples, separatemessages may instruct the playback device 102 l to add the audio contentto the queue and to play back the queue.

In an example, the control device 103 may send such a message based onreceiving user input indicating an instruction to play back audiocontent on playback device 102 l. For instance, via user interface 326,one or more audio tracks, Internet radio stations, or other audiocontent is selected for playback on playback device 102 l, which asshown in FIG. 1 is configured as the Dining Room zone (which can also bereferred to as the Dining Room “Room”). Such user input may involve aselection of the Dining Room zone (or perhaps a selection of a zonegroup that includes the Office zone) and selection of audio content toadd to a queue of the Office zone (or of the zone group that includesthe Office Zone). For instance, as shown in FIG. 4B, the user may selectthe “Dining Room+Kitchen” zone group in the playback zone region 443 ofuser interface 326 b. In further examples, the input may involveselection of a Set, Room, Area, or Home of the Home Graph hierarchydescribed above.

Based on receiving the message instructing the playback device 102 l toadd an audio content to the queue of playback device 102 l for playback,at 552, the playback device 102 l sends a fetch message to the remotecomputing devices 105 requesting the audio content at the URI. Based onthis fetch message, at 553, the remote computing devices 105 stream theaudio content to the playback device 102 l. The playback device 102 lreceives the audio content stream and plays back the audio content. At554, the playback device 102 l provides its status back to the controldevice 103 via a state variable indicating that the playback device 102l is playing back the audio content.

In an example in which playback device 102 l is joined into a zone group(e.g., the “Dining Room+Kitchen” zone group), the playback device 102 land other playback devices of the zone group (e.g., the playback device102 i of the Kitchen zone), play back the audio content in synchrony. Insuch an example, the playback device 102 l may operate as a zone groupcoordinator for the zone group by distributing the audio content streamand timing information to the other playback devices in the zone groupvia the network provided by network router 106 to facilitate synchronousplayback, as described in previously referenced U.S. Pat. No. 8,234,395.

While the playback device 102 l is playing back the audio content, at555, the control device 103 detects connection of the headphones 104 tothe control device 103. As described above in connection with FIG. 3 ,the control device 103 includes headphone interface(s) 336 to facilitateconnection of the headphones 104 to the control device 103. Detectingconnection of the headphones 104 may involve detecting a change instatus of a state variable that is maintained by the headphoneinterface(s) 336, which indicates whether any headphones 104 areconnected to the control device 103 via headphone interface(s) 336.

Based on detecting connection of the headphones 104 to the controldevice 103, the control device 103 transitions playback of the audiocontent from the playback device 102 l to the control device 103. Moreparticularly, the control device stops playback on the playback device1021 at a given play position and starts playback of the audio contenton the control device 103 at the same play position. These operationseffectively transition playback of the audio content from the playbackdevice 102 l to the control device 103.

To stop playback on the playback device 102, at 556, the control device103 sends a message that instructs the playback device 102 l to stopplayback. In some examples, this message instructs the playback deviceto mute the audio content playback, which effectively stops playbackfrom the perspective of the user. Muting the audio content playback(rather than stopping it completely) may facilitate transitioningplayback back to the playback device 102 l as the playback merely needsto be unmuted. However, such an implementation may use additionalnetwork resources (from streaming the audio content) and prevent theplayback device 102 l from going into certain low-power modes. As such,in alternate examples, the message instructs the playback device 102 lto stop playback.

If playback device 102 l is configured into a bonded zone, zone group,or other synchrony group, the control device 103 stops playback on allthe playback devices in the synchrony group. In one example, the controldevice 103 sends the message that instructs the playback device 102 l tostop playback to playback device 102 l and, based on this message,playback device 102 l instructs the other playback device(s) of thesynchrony group to stop playback. Alternatively, the control device 103sends messages to the playback devices of the synchrony group toinstruct the playback devices to stop playback.

In some examples, the control device 103 receives an offset indicating acurrent play position of the audio content. The control device 103 mayreceive this offset based on the message instructing the playback device102 l to stop playback or a message requesting the offset, among otherexamples. In other examples, the play position is tracked by the controldevice 103 so as to facilitate showing an indication of play position onthe control interface 326. In such examples, the playback device 102 lmay share the play position with the control device 103 as a statevariable to facilitate accuracy of the play position indicator and tofacilitate the example headphone interactions disclosed herein.

To start playback on the control device 103, at 557, the control device103 sends a fetch message to the remote content servers 105 requestingthe audio content at the URI. The fetch message may include an offsetindicating the current play position of the audio content so as toinstruct the remote content servers 105 to stream the audio contentbeginning with that play position. Based on this fetch message, at 558,the remote computing devices 105 stream the audio content to the controldevice 103. The control device 103 receives the audio content stream andplays back the audio content via the headphones 104.

In another example, the headphones 104 may already be connected to thecontrol device 103 when the control device 103 receives an instructionto play audio content on a given playback device, bonded zone, zonegroup, or Home Graph hierarchy target (e.g., a Room or Area). In suchexamples, the control device 103 might not perform the steps at 551-544.Instead, the process may begin with performing the detect connection ofheadphones step shown at 555 and based on detecting that the headphonesare connected, the control device 103 sends a fetch message to theremote content servers 105 requesting the audio content at the URI.Based on this fetch message, the remote computing devices 105 stream theaudio content to the control device 103. The control device 103 receivesthe audio content stream and plays back the audio content via theheadphones 104.

In some implementations, certain types of playback devices 102 areheadphone-enabled. Before transitioning playback from a given playbackdevice 102 to headphones 104 connected to the control device 103, thecontrol device 103 may determine whether the given playback device 102is headphone-enabled. Determining whether the given playback device 102is headphone-enabled may involve checking a state variable maintainedwithin the media playback system 100 that indicates whether givenplayback device 102 is headphone-enabled. In such implementations, ifthe given playback device 102 is headphone enabled, the control device103 proceeds with transitioning playback. If not, the control device 103does not transition playback.

Designating certain types of devices as headphone-enabled (orheadphone-disabled) may prevent unexpected behavior in a multi-zonemulti-controller system such as media playback system 100.Video-associated playback devices (i.e., playback devices, such assoundbar-type devices that are configured to play back audio insynchrony with video playing on a television) are an example type orcategory of playback devices that can be designated as headphone-enabled(or disabled) in various implementations. Grouped playback devices (e.g.playback devices 102 in a zone group or Area) are another example typeor category of playback devices that can be designated asheadphone-enabled (or disabled) in various implementations. Otherexamples are possible as well.

In some implementations, a given playback device 102 (or a given zonegroup, Area, or other group) becomes headphone-disabled when a firstcontrol device 103 has transitioned playback from the given playbackdevice 102 to playback on the first control device 103 with headphones104. This configuration prevents a second control device 103 fromtransitioning playback from the given playback device 102 to playback onthe second control device 103, effectively limiting the feature to oneset of headphones 104. Such a configuration may prevent unexpectedbehavior in a multi-zone multi-controller system such as media playbacksystem 100.

To illustrate a further example, FIG. 5C is a message flow diagram 560showing instructions exchanged between the control device 103, theplayback device 102 l, and the remote computing devices 105 (i.e., acontent server of a streaming audio service) to transition playback backfrom the control device 103 to the playback device 102 l. Such messagesare representative and example implementations that use additional orfewer messages are contemplated.

At 561, the remote computing devices 105 are streaming audio content tothe control device 103, which plays the audio content back viaheadphones 104. Such a step is akin to the streaming performed at step558 of FIG. 5B based on the fetch request at 557 to facilitatetransferring playback from the playback device 102 l to the controldevice 103. Alternatively, the control device 103 may send a fetchrequest based on audio content being selected for playback on thecontrol device 103.

While the control device 103 is playing back the audio content viaheadphones 104, at 562, the control device 103 detects disconnection ofthe headphones 104 from the control device 103. As described above inconnection with FIG. 3 , the control device 103 includes headphoneinterface(s) 336 to facilitate connection of the headphones 104 to thecontrol device 103. Detecting disconnection of the headphones 104 mayinvolve detecting a change in status of a state variable that ismaintained by the headphone interface(s) 336, which indicates whetherany headphones 104 are connected to the control device 103 via headphoneinterface(s) 336.

Based on detecting disconnection of the headphones 104 from the controldevice 103, the control device 103 transitions playback of the audiocontent from the control device 103 to the playback device 102 l. Moreparticularly, the control device stops playback on the control device103 at a given play position and starts playback of the audio content onthe playback device 102 l at the same play position. These operationseffectively transition playback of the audio content from the controldevice 103 to the playback device 102 l.

At 563, the control device 103 sends a message to the playback device102 l that instructs the playback device 102 l to add particular audiocontent to the queue of playback device 102 l for playback. The messageincludes a URI indicating the location of the audio content at theremote computing devices 105. The message also instructs the playbackdevice 102 l to play back the queue. In other examples, separatemessages may instruct the playback device 102 l to add the audio contentto the queue and to play back the queue. In some examples, the messageincludes an offset indicating a current play position of the audiocontent.

Based on receiving the message instructing the playback device 102 l toadd an audio content to the queue of playback device 102 l for playback,at 552, the playback device 102 l sends a fetch message to the remotecomputing devices 105 requesting the audio content at the URI. Based onthis fetch message, at 553, the remote computing devices 105 stream theaudio content to the playback device 102 l. The playback device 102 lreceives the audio content stream and plays back the audio content.

Alternatively, if playback by playback device 102 l was stopped viamuting, the message may instruct the playback device 102 l to unmute theplayback, which, in combination with stopping playback on the controldevice 103 with the headphones 104, effectively transitions playbackback to the playback device 102 l. In such examples, the fetch messagefrom the playback device 102 l is unnecessary, as the playback device102 l is already streaming the audio content.

In some implementations, when the control device 103 detects that theheadphones 104 are disconnected (or otherwise disabled), the controldevice 103 verifies that the user has indicated that playback should betransitioned in such circumstances. For instance, the control device 103may display a selectable control prompting the user to confirm thatplayback should resume on the playback device 102 l. When the selectablecontrol is selected, the control device 103 transitions playback to theplayback device 102 l. Alternatively, verification may be pre-set inadvance using a policy.

To illustrate such a prompt, FIG. 6A shows a controller interface 326 cdisplayed on control device 103. As shown, controller interface 326 cincludes a prompt 671 indicating the control device 103 detected thatthe headphones 104 were disconnected from the control device 103.Controller interface 326 c also includes a selectable control 672 that,when selected, causes the control device 103 to transition playback toplayback device 102 l (in the Dining Room zone). Alternatively,selectable controls 673 and 674 cause the control device 103 to continueplaying back the audio content on the control device 103 (e.g., viaintegrated speakers) or to stop playback entirely, respectively. Asindicated above, the controller interface 326 c may additionally displayselectable controls to optionally adjust a playback volume when playbackresumes on playback device 102 l.

To illustrate example policies, FIG. 6B shows a controller interface 326d displayed on control device 103. As shown, controller interface 326 dincludes a policy region 676 that includes slider controls 677 a-e. Eachslider control 677 a-e allows setting of a policy for a respective zone.In particular, each slider control 677 a-e is controllable via touchinput to set the hours (i.e., portions of a 24 hour cycle) forautomatically transitioning playback for a respective zone, as shown.Additional slider controls (e.g., for other zones of a media playbacksystem) may be accessed by scrolling the policy region 676. While zonesare shown by way of example, polices may be set for various groupings,such as zone groups or Areas as well.

Turning to another example, FIG. 7A illustrates another exampleconfiguration of a system in which example headphone interactions may bepracticed. As shown, the system of FIG. 7A includes the playback device102 b of media playback system 100 (i.e., a soundbar-type device), thecontrol device 103, headphones 104, and a network router 106. Inoperation, connection of the headphones 104 to the control device 103causes the control device 103 to transition playback of audio contentfrom the playback device 102 b to the control device 103 (via theheadphones 104). Similarly, disconnection of the headphones 104 from thecontrol device 103 causes the control device 103 to transition playbackof audio content from the control device 103 (via the headphones 104) tothe playback device 102 l.

In an example, playback device 102 b is configured to receive audiocontent from television 780 and play back that audio content insynchrony with video playing on the television 780 (i.e., to play backthe television audio). In such a configuration, when playback istransitioned from the playback device 102 b to the control device 103(via the headphones 104), playback device 102 b may provide the audiocontent to the control device 103. Moreover, to keep the audio contentplayback in synchrony with the video content playing on the television108, playback device 102 b and control device 103 form a synchrony groupin which playback device 102 b provides audio content and timinginformation to control device 102 b.

To illustrate, FIG. 7B is a message flow diagram 780 showinginstructions exchanged between the control device 103 and the playbackdevice 102 b. Such messages are representative and exampleimplementations that use additional or fewer messages are contemplated.

At 781, the control device 103 sends a message to the playback device102 b that instructs the playback device 102 b to play back the line-ininput (e.g., an HDMI, optical digital or analog input). Based on thisinstruction, the playback device 102 b begins playing audio contentprovided via the line-in connection. At 782, the playback device 102 bprovides its status back to the control device 103 via a state variableindicating that the playback device 102 l is playing back audio contentfrom the line-in connection.

While the playback device 102 b is playing back the audio content, at783, the control device 103 detects connection of the headphones 104 tothe control device 103. As described above in connection with FIG. 3 ,the control device 103 includes headphone interface(s) 336 to facilitateconnection of the headphones 104 to the control device 103. Detectingconnection of the headphones 104 may involve detecting a change instatus of a state variable that is maintained by the headphoneinterface(s) 336, which indicates whether any headphones 104 areconnected to the control device 103 via headphone interface(s) 336.

Based on detecting connection of the headphones 104 to the controldevice 103, the control device 103 transitions playback of the audiocontent from the playback device 102 b to the control device 103. Moreparticularly, the control device stops playback on the playback device102 b and starts playback of the audio content on the control device103. These operations effectively transition playback of the audiocontent from the playback device 102 b to the control device 103.

To stop playback on the playback device 102 b, at 784, the controldevice 103 sends a message that instructs the playback device 102 b tomute playback. If playback device 102 b is configured into a bondedzone, zone group, or other synchrony group, all the playback devices inthe synchrony group mute playback as well. For instance, if playbackdevice 102 b is configured into a bonded zone (i.e., a surround soundconfiguration) with playback devices 102 a, 102 j, and 102 k, themessage mutes playback on each device in the bonded zone configuration.In one example, the control device 103 sends the message that instructsthe playback device 102 b to mute playback to playback device 102 b and,based on this message, the playback device 102 b instructs the otherplayback device(s) of the synchrony group to mute playback.Alternatively, the control device 103 sends messages to the playbackdevices of the synchrony group to instruct the playback devices to muteplayback.

To start playback on the control device 103, at 785, the control device103 sends a message that instructs the playback device 102 b to form asynchrony group with the control device 103. Based on this message, theplayback device 102 b forms a synchrony group with the control device103. In some examples, the playback device 102 b becomes a groupcoordinator of the new synchrony group. As group coordinator, theplayback device 102 b provides audio content and timing information tothe control device 103, as described in previously referenced U.S. Pat.No. 8,234,395. At 786, the playback device 102 b streams this audiocontent and timing information to the control device 103.

In this example, the control device 103 and the playback device 102 bare playing back the audio content from the television 108 in synchrony.However, playback has effectively transitioned from the playback device102 b to the control device 103 since playback on the playback device102 b is muted and the control device 103 is now playing back the audiocontent from the television 108 via the headphones 104.

If the playback device 102 b was previously in another group, themessage at 785 to create a synchrony group may affect this group. Insome instances, such as when the group is a synchrony group in whicheach device plays back the same audio content, the message at 785 causesthe control device 103 to join the existing group. In other instances,such as when the group is a bonded zone in which each device plays backthe different audio content (e.g., different channels of the audiocontent), the message at 785 causes formation of a new synchrony groupthat includes the playback device 102 b and the control device 103.

During playback on the control device 103, control inputs received viathe control interface 326 may be applied to the synchrony group. Some ofthese inputs (e.g., volume control) may be only applied to the controldevice, while others are applied to all devices in the synchrony group(e.g., transport) control. That is, volume control is not reflected onthe playback device(s) 102 so that the volume levels of the playbackdevices 102 are maintained from their pre-muted level. However,transport controls are applied to keep playback in synchrony.

To illustrate a further example, FIG. 7C is a message flow diagram 790showing instructions exchanged between the control device 103 and theplayback device 102 b to transition playback from the control device 103to the playback device 102 b. Such messages are representative andexample implementations that use additional or fewer messages arecontemplated.

At 791, the playback device 102 b is streaming audio content and timinginformation to the control device 103 to facilitate playback of theaudio content from the television 108 via headphones 104. This step isakin to the streaming performed at step 786 of FIG. 7B.

While the control device 103 is playing back the audio content viaheadphones 104, at 792, the control device 103 detects disconnection ofthe headphones 104 from the control device 103. Based on detectingdisconnection of the headphones 104 from the control device 103, thecontrol device 103 transitions playback of the audio content from thecontrol device 103 to the playback device 102 b. More particularly, thecontrol device 103 stops playback on the control device 103 and startsplayback of the audio content on the playback device 102 b. Theseoperations effectively transition playback of the audio content from thecontrol device 103 to the playback device 102 b.

At 793, the control device 103 sends a message to the playback device102 b that instructs the playback device 102 b to dissolve the synchronygroup that includes the control device 103. If the playback device 102 bwas previously part of another synchrony group prior to forming thesynchrony group that includes the control device 103, the playbackdevice 102 b may re-form that synchrony group (perhaps by removing thecontrol device 103). Alternatively, the playback device 102 b mayoperate individually. Dissolving the synchrony group that includes thecontrol device 103 stops play back on the control device 103 via theheadphones 104, as this operation causes the playback device 102 b tostop providing the audio content and timing information to the controldevice 103.

To start playback of the audio content on the playback device 102 b, thecontrol device 103 sends a message to the playback device 102 b thatinstructs the playback device 102 b to unmute playback. If playbackdevice 102 l is configured into a bonded zone, zone group, or othersynchrony group, all the playback devices in the synchrony group unmuteplayback as well. For instance, if playback device 102 b isre-configured into a bonded zone (i.e., a surround sound configuration)with playback devices 102 a, 102 j, and 102 k, the message unmutesplayback on each device in the bonded zone configuration.

In some implementations, when the control device 103 detects that theheadphones 104 are disconnected (or otherwise disabled), the controldevice 103 verifies that the user has indicated that playback should betransitioned in such circumstances. For instance, the control device 103may display a selectable control prompting the user to confirm thatplayback should resume on the playback device 102 b. The control device103 may additionally prompt the user to optionally adjust a playbackvolume when playback resumes on playback device 102 b. Additionally oralternatively, verification may be pre-set in advance using a policy.Examples of such verification are shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

In further examples, multiple control devices 103 are connectable to theplayback device 102 for synchronous playback. FIG. 7D illustrates anexample system with two control devices 103 connected to playback device102 b. Each additional control device 103 is included in the synchronygroup that includes the playback device 102 and the first controldevice. For instance, in FIG. 7D, the playback device 102 b providingaudio content and timing information to control devices 103 a and 103 bas group coordinator of a synchrony group.

In a multiple control device configuration such as FIG. 7D, the firstcontrol device 103 to detect that headphones are connected may triggerthe headphone interaction. For instance, the control device 103 a maydetect that headphones 104 a were connected to control device 103 a andtransition playback to control device 103 a via headphones 104 a.Subsequently, the control device 103 b may detect that headphones 104 bwere connected to control device 103 b and transition playback tocontrol device 103 b via headphones 104 b (e.g., by joining thesynchrony group that includes playback device 102 b and control device103 a).

At some point thereafter, headphones may be disconnected from one of thecontrol devices. For instance, the control device 103 a may detect thatheadphones 104 a were disconnected from control device 103 a. Based onthis detection, the control device 103 a may leave the synchrony group.However, playback of the audio content from the television 108 continueson to control device 103 b via headphones 104 b until control device 103b detects that headphones 104 b were disconnected from control device103 b. At this point, both control devices 103 leave the synchrony groupand audio content playback on playback device 102 b is unmuted.

In some examples, playback devices 102 in proximity to a control device103 may have their audio playback modified when the control device 103detects that headphones 104 have been connected or disconnected from thecontrol device 103. Techniques for determining the location or proximityof a control device relative to a playback device may include or moretechniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,084,058 filed Dec. 29, 2011, andtitled “Sound Field Calibration Using Listener Localization,” which isincorporated herein in its entirety. In addition, techniques fordetermining the location or proximity of a control device relative to aplayback device may include or more techniques disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 8,965,033 filed Aug. 31, 2012, and titled “Acoustic Optimization” isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

IV. Example Headphone Interaction Techniques

Implementation 1000 shown in FIG. 8 presents example embodiments oftechniques described herein. These example embodiments that can beimplemented within an operating environment including, for example, themedia playback system 100 of FIG. 1 , one or more of the playback device102 of FIG. 2 , and one or more of the control device 103 of FIG. 3 , aswell as other devices described herein and/or other suitable devices.Further, operations illustrated by way of example as being performed bya media playback system can be performed by any suitable device, such asa playback device or a control device of a media playback system.Implementation 1000 may include one or more operations, functions, oractions as illustrated by one or more of blocks shown in FIG. 8 .Although the blocks are illustrated in sequential order, these blocksmay also be performed in parallel, and/or in a different order thanthose described herein. Also, the various blocks may be combined intofewer blocks, divided into additional blocks, and/or removed based uponthe desired implementation.

In addition, for the implementations disclosed herein, the flowchartsshow functionality and operation of one possible implementation ofpresent embodiments. In this regard, each block may represent a module,a segment, or a portion of program code, which includes one or moreinstructions executable by a processor for implementing specific logicalfunctions or steps in the process. The program code may be stored on anytype of computer readable medium, for example, such as a storage deviceincluding a disk or hard drive. The computer readable medium may includenon-transitory computer readable medium, for example, such ascomputer-readable media that stores data for short periods of time likeregister memory, processor cache, and Random Access Memory (RAM). Thecomputer readable medium may also include non-transitory media, such assecondary or persistent long term storage, like read only memory (ROM),optical or magnetic disks, compact-disc read only memory (CD-ROM), forexample. The computer readable media may also be any other volatile ornon-volatile storage systems. The computer readable medium may beconsidered a computer readable storage medium, for example, or atangible storage device. In addition, for the implementations disclosedherein, each block may represent circuitry that is wired to perform thespecific logical functions in the process.

As discussed above, embodiments described herein involve headphoneinteractions with a media playback system. FIG. 8 illustrates an exampleimplementation 1000 by which connection and/or disconnection ofheadphones 104 to a control device 103 of a media playback system 100may trigger interactions with the media playbacks system 100.

a. Receive Indication of Audio Content

At block 1002, implementation 1000 involves receiving an indication ofaudio content. In some examples, the control device 103 may receive anindication of audio content may include an indication of audio contentthat is currently playing on one or more playback devices 102.Alternatively, the playback device 102 may receive an instruction toplay audio content on one or more playback devices 102, among otherexamples.

For instance, the control device 103 may receive via a networkinterface, an indication of particular audio content being played backby a first zone of the media playback system. Examples of suchindications include the messages indicating state variables at 554 inFIG. 5B and at 782 in FIG. 7B. In some instances, the control device 103may receive such an indication while headphones are disconnected fromthe first control device.

As a further example, the playback device 102 may receive, from acontrol device 103, an instruction to play audio content on one or moreplayback devices 102. For instance, as shown in FIG. 5B at 551, thecontrol device 103 may send a message instructing the playback device102 to play back particular audio content from an audio content URI.Based on such an instruction, the playback device 102 retrieves theaudio content from an audio source and plays back the retrieved audiocontent.

b. Detect Connection of Headphones

At block 1004, implementation 1000 involves detecting connection ofheadphones. For instance, the control device 103 may detect connectionof headphones to control device 103, as discussed at 555 in FIG. 5B andat 783 in FIG. 7B. As discussed above, detecting connection ofheadphones may involve detecting a change in the state of a statevariable indicating headphone connection status. Headphones may beconnectable to the control device 103 via either an analog headphonejack or a point-to-point personal area network connection via a personalarea network interface, among other examples.

In another example, detecting connection of headphones involvesreceiving a message indicating that headphones 104 are connected to thecontrol device 103 of the media playback system. For instance, theplayback device 102 may receive such a message from the control device103 via a network interface based on the control device 103 detectingconnection of headphones 104. In some examples, the playback device 102may receive such messages from multiple control devices 103 (e.g., fromcontrol device 103 a and control device 103 b as shown in FIG. 7D).

c. Transition Playback From Playback Device(s) To Headphones

In FIG. 10 , at block 1006, implementation 1000 involves transitioningplayback from one or more playback devices to headphones. For instance,the control device 103 may transition playback from the playbackdevice(s) 102 to the control device 103 via headphones 104 based ondetecting that the headphones are connected to the control device 103.In another example, a given playback device 102 may transition playbackfrom the playback device(s) 102 to the control device 103 via headphones104 based on detecting that the headphones are connected to the controldevice 103

As noted above, the control device 103 may transition playback.Transitioning playback may involve causing the playback device(s) 102 tostop playback of the particular audio content, as described inconnection with steps 556 of FIG. 5B and 784 of FIG. 7B. Transitioningplayback may also involve retrieving the audio content from an audiosource and resuming playback of the particular audio content via theconnected headphones, as illustrated by steps 557 and 558 of FIG. 5B andsteps 785 and 786 of FIG. 7B.

In another example, the playback device 102 may transition playback. Forinstance, the playback device 102 may stop playback of the retrievedaudio content (e.g., by muting playback or stopping playback entirely).The playback device 102 may cause the control device 103 to play backthe audio content via the connected headphones, perhaps by sending theaudio content and timing information to the control device 103, asillustrated in step 786 of FIG. 5B.

d. Detect Disconnection of Headphones

Referring again to FIG. 10 , at block 1008, implementation 1000 involvesdetecting disconnection of headphones. For instance, the control device103 may detect disconnection of headphones from control device 103, asdiscussed at 562 in FIG. 5C and at 792 in FIG. 7C. As discussed above,detecting disconnection of headphones may involve detecting a change inthe state of a state variable indicating headphone connection status.

In another example, detecting disconnection of headphones involvesreceiving a message indicating that headphones 104 have beendisconnected from connected to the control device 103. For instance, theplayback device 102 may receive such a message from the control device103 via a network interface. In some examples, the playback device 102may receive such messages from multiple control devices 103 (e.g., fromcontrol device 103 a and control device 103 b as shown in FIG. 7D).

e. Transition Playback From Headphones to Playback Device(s)

In FIG. 10 , at block 1010, implementation 1000 involves transitioningplayback from headphones to one or more playback devices. For instance,the control device 103 may transition playback from the control device103 via headphones 104 to the playback device(s) 102 based on detectingthat the headphones are disconnected from the control device 103. Inanother example, a given playback device 102 may transition playbackfrom the control device 103 via headphones 104 to the playback device(s)102 based on detecting that the headphones are connected to the controldevice 103

As noted above, the control device 103 may transition playback.Transitioning playback may involve to stopping playback of theparticular audio content, as described in connection with step 793 ofFIG. 7C. Transitioning playback may also involve causing the playbackdevice(s) 102 to resume playback of the audio content, as illustrated bystep 563 of FIG. 5C and step 794 of FIG. 7C.

In another example, the playback device 102 may transition playback. Forinstance, the playback device 102 may cause the control device 103 tostop playback (e.g., by ceasing to provide the audio content and/ortiming information to the control device 103). The playback device 102may start playback by retrieving the audio content or unmuting playback,among other examples.

V. Conclusion

The description above discloses, among other things, various examplesystems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture including,among other components, firmware and/or software executed on hardware.It is understood that such examples are merely illustrative and shouldnot be considered as limiting. For example, it is contemplated that anyor all of the firmware, hardware, and/or software aspects or componentscan be embodied exclusively in hardware, exclusively in software,exclusively in firmware, or in any combination of hardware, software,and/or firmware. Accordingly, the examples provided are not the onlyway(s) to implement such systems, methods, apparatus, and/or articles ofmanufacture.

(Feature 1) A method comprising while headphones are disconnected fromthe first control device, receiving, via a network interface of thefirst control device, an indication of particular audio content beingplayed back by a first zone of the media playback system, wherein thefirst zone comprises one or more playback devices that are separate anddistinct from the first control device and connected to the firstcontrol device via a local area network; while the particular audiocontent is being played back by the one or more playback devices of themedia playback system, detecting that headphones have been connected tothe first control device, wherein headphones are connectable to thefirst control device via either (a) an analog headphone jack of thefirst control device or (b) a point-to-point personal area networkconnection via a personal area network interface of the first controldevice; and in response to detecting that the headphones are connectedto the first control device of the media playback system: (i) causing,via the network interface of the first control device, the one or moreplayback devices of the first zone to stop playback of the particularaudio content; (ii) retrieving, via the network interface of the firstcontrol device, the particular audio content from an audio source thatis remote from the first control device; and (iii) resuming playback ofthe particular audio content via the connected headphones.

(Feature 2) The method of feature 1, further comprising: while the firstcontrol device is playing back the particular audio content via theconnected headphones, detecting that the headphones have beendisconnected from the first control device; in response to detectingthat the headphones have been disconnected from the first controldevice, (i) stopping playback of the particular audio content by thefirst control device and (ii) causing a graphical display to display aselectable control, that when selected, causes one or more playbackdevices of the first zone to resume playback of the particular audiocontent; and in response to detecting input data indicating a selectionof the selectable control, that when selected, causes the one or moreplayback devices of the first zone to resume playback of the particularaudio content, causing, via the network interface of the first controldevice, the one or more playback devices of the first zone to resumeplayback of the particular audio content.

(Feature 3) The method of feature 1, further comprising: while the firstcontrol device is playing back the particular audio content via theconnected headphones, detecting that the headphones have beendisconnected from the first control device; in response to detectingthat the headphones have been disconnected from the first controldevice, (i) stopping playback of the particular audio content by thefirst control device and (ii) determining whether a policy of the firstzone indicates that playback is resumed when headphones have beendisconnected from the first control device; and in response todetermining that the policy of the first zone indicates that playback isresumed when headphones have been disconnected from the first controldevice, causing, via the network interface of the first control device,the one or more playback devices of the first zone to resume playback ofthe particular audio content.

(Feature 4) The method of feature 3, wherein the policy indicates thatplayback is resumed when headphones have been disconnected from thefirst control device during a portion of a 24 hour cycle and the policyindicates that playback is not resumed when headphones have beendisconnected from the first control device during the remainder of the24 hour cycle.

(Feature 5) The method of feature 1, wherein detecting that headphoneshave been connected to the first control device comprises detecting thata state variable stored in data storage of the first control device hasbeen modified to indicate that headphones are connected to the firstcontrol device, wherein the state variable is updated by at least one of(a) a circuit within the analog headphone jack of the first controldevice or (b) the personal area network interface of the first controldevice.

(Feature 6) The method of feature 1, wherein retrieving the particularaudio content from the audio source that is remote from the firstcontrol device comprises: joining the first control device as a secondzone into a zone group that includes the first zone; and receiving, viathe network interface of the first control device from a zone groupcoordinator of the zone group, a data stream representing (i) theparticular audio content for playback by the first control device viathe headphones and (ii) playback timing information indicating aplayback schedule for the first control device to play back theparticular audio content via the connected headphones in synchrony withthe one or more playback devices of the first zone, wherein the one ormore playback devices are muted, and wherein the zone group coordinatoris a given playback device of the first zone.

(Feature 7) The method of feature 1, wherein the first zone comprises agiven playback device comprising a line-in interface, and whereinretrieving the particular audio content from the audio source that isremote from the first control device comprises receiving, via thenetwork interface of the first control device from the given playbackdevice, an audio stream representing the particular audio contentreceived by the given playback device via the line-in interface.

(Feature 8) The method of feature 7, wherein the particular audiocontent is an audio track of video content, wherein the line-ininterface of the given playback device is connected to a television, andwherein retrieving the particular audio content from the audio sourcethat is remote from the first control device comprises receiving, viathe network interface of the first control device from the givenplayback device, the audio stream representing the particular audiocontent for playback by the first control device via the connectedheadphones in sync with video content playing on the television.

(Feature 9) The method of feature 1, wherein the first zone comprisesmultiple playback devices, and wherein causing the one or more playbackdevices of the first zone to stop playback of the particular audiocontent comprises sending, via the network interface of the firstcontrol device to a group coordinator of the first zone, an instructionto cause the group coordinator of the first zone to stop synchronousplayback of the particular audio content among the multiple playbackdevices of the first zone, wherein the group coordinator is a givenplayback device of the first zone that provides, to other playbackdevices of the first zone, a data stream representing (i) the particularaudio content and (ii) playback timing information indicating a playbackschedule for the multiple playback devices to play back the particularaudio content in synchrony.

(Feature 10) The method of feature 1, wherein the first zone is in azone group with a second zone that comprises one or more additionalplayback devices, and wherein causing the one or more playback devicesof the first zone to stop playback of the particular audio contentcomprises sending, via the network interface of the first control deviceto the first zone and the second zone, respective instructions to stopsynchronous playback of the particular audio content.

(Feature 11) A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium havingstored therein instructions executable by one or more processors tocause a device to perform the method of any of features 1-10.

(Feature 12) A control device configured to perform the method of any offeatures 1-10.

(Feature 13) A system configured to perform the method of any offeatures 1-10.

(Feature 14) A method to be carried out by a playback device comprisingan audio stage comprising an amplifier, one or more speakers, an I/Ointerface comprising a network interface, one or more processors, ahousing carrying the audio stage, the one or more speakers, the networkinterface, the one or more processors and data storage having storedtherein instructions executable by the one or more processors to causethe playback device to perform the method, the methods comprising:receiving, via the network interface from a first control device of themedia playback system, an instruction to play back audio content,wherein the first control device is separate and distinct from theplayback device; in response to receiving the instruction to play backaudio content, (i) retrieving, via the I/O interface, the audio contentfrom an audio source that is remote from the playback device and (ii)playing back the retrieved audio content via the audio stage and the oneor more speakers; while playing back the retrieved audio content via theaudio stage and the one or more speakers, receiving, via the networkinterface from the first control device, a message indicating that firstheadphones are connected to the first control device of the mediaplayback system; and in response to receiving the message indicatingthat the first headphones are connected to the first control device ofthe media playback system: (i) stopping playback of the retrieved audiocontent via the audio stage and the one or more speakers and (ii)causing, via the network interface, the first control device to playback the audio content via the first headphones.

(Feature 15) The method of feature 14, further comprising: while thefirst control device is playing back the audio content via the firstheadphones, receiving, via the network interface from the first controldevice of the media playback system, a message indicating that that thefirst headphones are disconnected from the first control device of themedia playback system; and in response to receiving the messageindicating that the first headphones are disconnected from the firstcontrol device of the media playback system, starting playback of theretrieved audio content at a muted volume level via the audio stage andthe one or more speakers at a play position corresponding to when thefirst headphones were disconnected from the first control device of themedia playback system.

(Feature 16) The method of feature 14, further comprising: while thefirst control device is playing back the audio content via the firstheadphones, receiving, via the network interface from a second controldevice of the media playback system, a message indicating that secondheadphones are connected to the second control device of the mediaplayback system, wherein the second control device is separate anddistinct from the playback device and the first control device; and inresponse to receiving the message indicating that the second headphonesare connected to the second control device of the media playback system,causing, via the network interface, the second control device to playback the audio content via the second headphones in synchrony with thefirst control device via the first headphones.

(Feature 17) The method of feature 16, further comprising: while thefirst control device and the second control device are playing back theaudio content via the first headphones and the second headphones,respectively, receiving, via the network interface from the firstcontrol device of the media playback system, a message indicating thatthat the first headphones are disconnected from the first control deviceof the media playback system; and in response to receiving the messageindicating that the first headphones are disconnected from the firstcontrol device of the media playback system, causing, via the networkinterface, the second control device to stop playing back the audiocontent via the second headphones.

(Feature 18) The method of feature 16, wherein causing the secondcontrol device to play back the audio content via the second headphonesin synchrony with the first control device via the first headphonescomprises: transmitting, via the network interface to the first controldevice, (i) the audio content for playback by the first control devicevia the first headphones and (ii) playback timing information indicatinga playback schedule for the first control device to play back the audiocontent via the first headphones in synchrony with the second controldevice; and transmitting, via the network interface to the secondcontrol device, (i) the audio content for playback by the first controldevice via the first headphones and (ii) playback timing informationindicating a playback schedule for the second control device to playback the audio content via the second headphones in synchrony with thefirst control device.

(Feature 19) The method of feature 14, wherein the I/O interfacecomprises a line-in interface, wherein retrieving, via the I/Ointerface, the audio content from an audio source that is remote fromthe playback device comprises receiving the audio content from via theline-in interface, and wherein causing, via the network interface, thefirst control device to play back the audio content via the firstheadphones comprises streaming, via the network interface, the audiocontent to the first control device for playback by the first controldevice via the first headphones.

(Feature 20) The method of feature 19, wherein the audio content is anaudio track of video content, wherein the line-in interface is connectedto a television, and wherein causing, via the network interface, thefirst control device to play back the audio content via the firstheadphones comprises streaming, via the network interface, the audiocontent to the first control device for playback by the first controldevice via the first headphones in sync with video content playing onthe television.

(Feature 21) The method of feature 19, wherein streaming the audiocontent to the first control device for playback by the first controldevice via the first headphones comprises hosting the audio content indata storage of the playback device, and wherein causing, via thenetwork interface, the first control device to play back the audiocontent via the first headphones comprises sending, via the networkinterface to the first control device, a uniform resource identifiersindicating a locations of the audio content at the playback device.

(Feature 22) The method of feature 14, wherein the audio contentcomprises one or more audio tracks of a streaming audio service, andwherein causing, via the network interface, the first control device toplay back the audio content via the first headphones comprises sending,via the network interface to the first control device, one or moreuniform resource identifiers indicating respective locations of the oneor more audio tracks at one or more servers of a streaming audioservice.

(Feature 23) The method of feature 14, wherein stopping playback of theretrieved audio content via the audio stage and the one or more speakerscomprises muting playback of the retrieved audio content via the audiostage and the one or more speakers.

(Feature 24) A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium havingstored therein instructions executable by one or more processors tocause a device to perform the method of any of features 14-23.

(Feature 25) A playback device configured to perform the method of anyof features 14-23.

(Feature 26) A system configured to perform the method of any offeatures 14-23.

The specification is presented largely in terms of illustrativeenvironments, systems, procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, andother symbolic representations that directly or indirectly resemble theoperations of data processing devices coupled to networks. These processdescriptions and representations are typically used by those skilled inthe art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to othersskilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide athorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it isunderstood to those skilled in the art that certain embodiments of thepresent disclosure can be practiced without certain, specific details.In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, andcircuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring aspects of the embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of thepresent disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than theforgoing description of embodiments.

When any of the appended claims are read to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the elements in at leastone example is hereby expressly defined to include a tangible,non-transitory medium such as a memory, DVD, CD, Blu-ray, and so on,storing the software and/or firmware.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a first playbackdevice; at least one processor; and at least one non-transitorycomputer-readable medium comprising program instructions that areexecutable by the at least one processor such that the system isconfigured to: while the first playback device is connected to a controldevice via a first connection, play back first audio content receivedfrom the control device via the first connection, wherein the firstplayback device is connectable to the control device over apoint-to-point personal area network connection via an 802.15-compatibleinterface of the first playback device; establish a second connection,the second connection between the first playback device and a secondplayback device, wherein the first playback device is connectable to thesecond playback device via either (a) a point-to-point personal areanetwork connection via the 802.15-compatible network interface of thefirst playback device or (b) a local area network connection via a802.11-compatible network interface of the second playback device; andwhile the first playback device is connected to the second playbackdevice via the second connection, play back second audio contentreceived from the second playback device via the second connection. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein the second playback device is configuredto receive audio from a television connected to the second playbackdevice via an HDMI connection, and wherein the program instructions thatare executable by the at least one processor such that the firstplayback device is configured to play back second audio content receivedfrom the second playback device via the second connection comprisesprogram instructions that are executable by the at least one processorsuch that the system is configured to: receive, via the secondconnection, data representing the audio from the television; and playback one or more channels of the audio from the television.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein at least one non-transitory computer readablemedium further comprises program instructions that are executable by theat least one processor such that the system is configured to: form asynchrony group with the second playback device, wherein the secondplayback device is a configured as a group coordinator of the synchronygroup; receive, via the second connection, timing information; and playback the second audio content based on the received timing information.4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system further comprises thesecond playback device, and wherein the second playback devicecomprises: at least one additional processor; and at least oneadditional non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising additionalprogram instructions that are executable by the at least one additionalprocessor such that the second playback device is configured to: playback the second audio content in synchrony with the first playbackdevice; and during playback of the second audio content, mute theplayback of the second audio content.
 5. The system of claim 1, whereinat least one non-transitory computer readable medium further comprisesprogram instructions that are executable by the at least one processorsuch that the system is configured to: stream, via the 802.11-compatiblenetwork interface of the second playback device, data representing thirdaudio content from one or more servers of a streaming audio service; andplay back the third audio content.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein thefirst playback device is connectable to the control device via (a) thepoint-to-point personal area network connection via the802.15-compatible interface of the first playback device or (b) ananalog input of the first playback device.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least oneprocessor such that the system is configured to establish the secondconnection comprise program instructions that are executable by the atleast one processor such that the system is configured to: disconnectthe first connection when the second connection is established.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the first playback device is configured as awearable playback device comprising one of (a) headphones or (b)earbuds.
 9. A first playback device comprising: at least one processor;and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprisingprogram instructions that are executable by the at least one processorsuch that the first playback device is configured to: while the firstplayback device is connected to a control device via a first connection,play back first audio content received from the control device via thefirst connection, wherein the first playback device is connectable tothe control device over a point-to-point personal area networkconnection via an 802.15-compatible interface of the first playbackdevice; establish a second connection, the second connection between thefirst playback device and a second playback device, wherein the firstplayback device is connectable to the second playback device via either(a) a point-to-point personal area network connection via the802.15-compatible network interface of the first playback device or (b)a local area network connection via a 802.11-compatible networkinterface of the second playback device; and while the first playbackdevice is connected to the second playback device via the secondconnection, play back second audio content received from the secondplayback device via the second connection.
 10. The first playback deviceof claim 9, wherein the second playback device is configured to receiveaudio from a television connected to the second playback device via anHDMI connection, and wherein the program instructions that areexecutable by the at least one processor such that the first playbackdevice is configured to play back second audio content received from thesecond playback device via the second connection comprises programinstructions that are executable by the at least one processor such thatthe first playback device is configured to: receive, via the secondconnection, data representing the audio from the television; and playback one or more channels of the audio from the television.
 11. Thefirst playback device of claim 9, wherein at least one non-transitorycomputer readable medium further comprises program instructions that areexecutable by the at least one processor such that the first playbackdevice is configured to: form a synchrony group with the second playbackdevice, wherein the second playback device is a configured as a groupcoordinator of the synchrony group; receive, via the second connection,timing information; and play back the second audio content based on thereceived timing information.
 12. The first playback device of claim 9,wherein at least one non-transitory computer readable medium furthercomprises program instructions that are executable by the at least oneprocessor such that the first playback device is configured to: stream,via the 802.11-compatible network interface of the second playbackdevice, data representing third audio content from one or more serversof a streaming audio service; and play back the third audio content. 13.The first playback device of claim 9, wherein the first playback deviceis connectable to the control device via (a) the point-to-point personalarea network connection via the 802.15-compatible interface of the firstplayback device or (b) an analog input of the first playback device. 14.The first playback device of claim 9, wherein the program instructionsthat are executable by the at least one processor such that the firstplayback device is configured to establish the second connectioncomprise program instructions that are executable by the at least oneprocessor such that the first playback device is configured to:disconnect the first connection when the second connection isestablished.
 15. The first playback device of claim 9, wherein the firstplayback device is configured as a wearable playback device comprisingone of (a) headphones or (b) earbuds.
 16. A method to be performed by afirst playback device, the method comprising: while the first playbackdevice is connected to a control device via a first connection, playingback first audio content received from the control device via the firstconnection, wherein the first playback device is connectable to thecontrol device over a point-to-point personal area network connectionvia an 802.15-compatible interface of the first playback device;establishing a second connection, the second connection between thefirst playback device and a second playback device, wherein the firstplayback device is connectable to the second playback device via either(a) a point-to-point personal area network connection via the802.15-compatible network interface of the first playback device or (b)a local area network connection via a 802.11-compatible networkinterface of the second playback device; and while the first playbackdevice is connected to the second playback device via the secondconnection, playing back second audio content received from the secondplayback device via the second connection.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the second playback device is configured to receive audio from atelevision connected to the second playback device via an HDMIconnection, and wherein playing back the second audio content receivedfrom the second playback device via the second connection comprises:receiving, via the second connection, data representing the audio fromthe television; and playing back one or more channels of the audio fromthe television.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: forminga synchrony group with the second playback device, wherein the secondplayback device is a configured as a group coordinator of the synchronygroup; receiving, via the second connection, timing information; andplaying back the second audio content based on the received timinginformation.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein establishing the secondconnection comprises: disconnecting the first connection when the secondconnection is established.
 20. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: streaming, via the 802.11-compatible network interface ofthe second playback device, data representing third audio content fromone or more servers of a streaming audio service; and playing back thethird audio content.